After a hilly opening stage, stage two was all for the sprinters, and Trek-Segafredo’s Lotta Lepistö sprinted to the win, giving Trek-Segafredo its second victory in two days at the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana.
Ruth Winder, the winner of the first stage, also maintained the leader’s jersey in the mostly flat 100-kilometer stage that saw little action off the front with Trek-Segafredo keeping a close eye on any dangerous moves, and most teams content for a bunched ending.
“Today was a more flat stage, and I tried to stay sheltered as long as I could before the sprint. There were some attacks, but the team was always there, so I didn’t have to worry about that at all,” said Lepistö.
After 70 kilometers no breakaway had established, and it was apparent the stage was headed towards a fast finish and the sprinters would have their say.
“In the end, it was a bunch sprint, and it was quite hectic in the last 10 kilometers,” explained Lepistö. “I think we lost each other a little with five kilometers to go, but I still had three of the girls there with me in the last two kilometers. They helped keep me out of the wind and then I used Sunweb’s train in the last 600 meters. I jumped at 250 meters to go and won! I was happy with the win and also that Ruth (Winder) could keep her jersey.”
The race continues Saturday with stage three, a pivotal day for the overall classification. Ruth Winder holds a slim six-second lead over second place with Elisa Longo-Borghini (16th) and Ellen van Dijk (17th) at fifteen seconds.
